L3Harris Technologies Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

L3Harris Technologies is a global aerospace and defense technology innovator that delivers advanced communications, electronic systems, and software solutions to meet critical mission needs.

As a Software Engineer at L3Harris, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and testing embedded software for tactical communication systems. You will work in a collaborative Agile environment, engaging with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions. Key responsibilities include conducting requirements analysis, software design, coding in C/C++, and performing software integration and testing. A strong understanding of object-oriented programming principles, the full software development lifecycle, and experience with Agile methodologies are essential for success in this role.

Your ability to effectively communicate technical concepts and work well within a team will align with L3Harris’ values of innovation, collaboration, and integrity. This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insights into the skills and experiences that the company values, as well as the types of questions you may encounter.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at L3Harris Technologies is structured and typically consists of several key stages designed to assess both technical and interpersonal skills.

1. Initial Screening

The process begins with an initial screening, usually conducted via a phone call with a recruiter. This conversation focuses on your resume, relevant experiences, and motivations for applying to L3Harris. The recruiter may also discuss your salary expectations and gauge your fit for the company culture. Be prepared to articulate your background and how it aligns with the role.

2. Technical Interview

Following the initial screening, candidates typically participate in a technical interview. This may be conducted over video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams or Zoom. During this session, you will be asked to solve coding problems, often related to C or C++, and demonstrate your understanding of object-oriented programming concepts. Expect questions that assess your knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and embedded systems.

3. Behavioral Interview

After the technical interview, candidates may undergo a behavioral interview. This round often involves multiple interviewers and focuses on your past experiences, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. You may be asked to discuss specific projects you’ve worked on, how you handle challenges, and your approach to collaboration within a team setting.

4. Panel Interview

In some cases, candidates may face a panel interview, where you will meet with several team members or managers simultaneously. This format allows interviewers to assess your fit for the team and the organization as a whole. Questions may cover both technical and behavioral aspects, and you may be asked to elaborate on your previous answers or provide additional examples.

5. Final Interview

The final stage may involve a more in-depth discussion with senior engineers or managers. This interview often focuses on your technical expertise and your ability to contribute to ongoing projects. You may be asked to present your understanding of specific technologies or methodologies relevant to the role, such as Agile practices or DevOps principles.

Throughout the process, L3Harris emphasizes a collaborative and respectful environment, so be sure to engage positively with your interviewers.

Now that you have an overview of the interview process, let’s delve into the specific questions that candidates have encountered during their interviews.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Technical Landscape

Familiarize yourself with the specific technologies and programming languages that L3Harris Technologies emphasizes, particularly C and C++. Brush up on your knowledge of object-oriented programming concepts, embedded systems, and the software development lifecycle. Given the focus on cryptographic subsystems and tactical communications, understanding the principles of secure coding and networking protocols will also be beneficial.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect a mix of behavioral and technical questions during your interviews. Be ready to discuss your past projects, your role in team settings, and how you handle challenges. L3Harris values effective interpersonal skills, so practice articulating your experiences in a clear and logical manner. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, particularly for questions about teamwork and conflict resolution.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

During technical interviews, you may be asked to solve coding problems or discuss your approach to debugging. Be prepared to think aloud as you work through problems, demonstrating your thought process and problem-solving strategies. Familiarize yourself with common coding exercises, such as reversing an array or implementing data structures, as these have been noted in past interviews.

Emphasize Your Teamwork and Collaboration

L3Harris operates in a collaborative environment, often working in Agile Scrum teams. Highlight your experience working in team settings, your adaptability, and your willingness to learn from others. Discuss how you have contributed to team success in previous roles, and be prepared to share examples of how you have effectively communicated technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Research the Company Culture

Understanding L3Harris’s mission and values can give you an edge. The company emphasizes innovation and teamwork, so be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. Familiarize yourself with recent projects or initiatives the company has undertaken, particularly in the realm of defense and communications technology, to demonstrate your genuine interest in the organization.

Be Ready for a Multi-Stage Interview Process

The interview process may involve multiple rounds, including phone screenings, technical interviews, and panel interviews. Stay organized and be prepared for each stage. If you have a chance to meet with different teams, use this opportunity to ask questions about their projects and work culture, which can help you assess if the team is a good fit for you.

Follow Up Professionally

After your interviews, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. This is not only courteous but also reinforces your interest in the position. Mention specific topics discussed during the interview to personalize your message and leave a lasting impression.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for the Software Engineer role at L3Harris Technologies. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at L3Harris Technologies. The interview process will likely assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and your fit within the team and company culture. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, technical knowledge, and how you approach challenges in software development.

Technical Skills

1. What are the core concepts of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)?

Understanding OOP is crucial for software development, especially in languages like C++ and Java.

How to Answer

Discuss the four main principles: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction. Provide examples of how you have applied these concepts in your projects.

Example

“Object-Oriented Programming is centered around four main principles: encapsulation, which protects the internal state of an object; inheritance, which allows a new class to inherit properties from an existing class; polymorphism, which enables methods to do different things based on the object it is acting upon; and abstraction, which simplifies complex systems by modeling classes based on the essential properties.”

2. Can you explain the difference between stack and heap memory?

This question tests your understanding of memory management in programming.

How to Answer

Explain the characteristics of stack and heap memory, including their allocation, size limitations, and lifetime.

Example

“Stack memory is used for static memory allocation, where the size is known at compile time, and it is automatically managed. In contrast, heap memory is used for dynamic memory allocation, allowing for variable sizes at runtime, but it requires manual management to avoid memory leaks.”

3. Describe your experience with embedded systems.

Given the focus on embedded software at L3Harris, this question is likely to come up.

How to Answer

Share specific projects or experiences where you developed or worked with embedded systems, highlighting the technologies and languages used.

Example

“I worked on a project developing firmware for a microcontroller-based system that controlled a robotic arm. I used C for programming and implemented real-time constraints to ensure timely responses to sensor inputs.”

4. What is a pure virtual function?

This question assesses your knowledge of C++ and its features.

How to Answer

Define a pure virtual function and explain its role in abstract classes.

Example

“A pure virtual function is a function declared in a base class that has no implementation and is declared by assigning 0 in its declaration. It forces derived classes to provide an implementation, making the base class abstract.”

5. How do you approach debugging a segmentation fault?

Debugging skills are essential for a software engineer, especially in C/C++.

How to Answer

Discuss your debugging process, including tools and techniques you use to identify and fix segmentation faults.

Example

“When I encounter a segmentation fault, I first use a debugger like GDB to trace the error back to the line of code causing the issue. I check for common causes such as dereferencing null pointers or accessing out-of-bounds array elements. I also review the code for proper memory allocation and deallocation.”

Behavioral Questions

1. Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame obstacles.

This question evaluates your problem-solving and teamwork skills.

How to Answer

Choose a specific project, describe the challenges faced, and explain the steps you took to overcome them.

Example

“In a recent project, we faced significant delays due to unexpected hardware issues. I organized daily stand-up meetings to improve communication and collaborated closely with the hardware team to identify and resolve the issues quickly, which ultimately helped us meet our deadline.”

2. How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?

Time management is crucial in a fast-paced environment.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to prioritization, including any tools or methods you use.

Example

“I prioritize tasks based on deadlines and project impact. I use tools like Trello to visualize my workload and ensure that I focus on high-impact tasks first. Regular check-ins with my team also help me adjust priorities as needed.”

3. What motivates you to work in software engineering?

Understanding your motivation can help assess your fit within the company culture.

How to Answer

Share your passion for technology and software development, and what aspects of the field excite you.

Example

“I am motivated by the challenge of solving complex problems and the opportunity to create software that can have a real-world impact. I enjoy the continuous learning aspect of technology and the satisfaction of seeing my code come to life in a product.”

4. How do you handle feedback and criticism?

This question assesses your ability to grow and adapt.

How to Answer

Explain your perspective on feedback and provide an example of how you’ve used it to improve.

Example

“I view feedback as an opportunity for growth. For instance, after receiving constructive criticism on my code quality during a code review, I took the initiative to learn more about best practices and refactored my code accordingly, which improved my future contributions.”

5. Why do you want to work for L3Harris Technologies?

This question gauges your interest in the company and its mission.

How to Answer

Discuss what attracts you to L3Harris, such as its projects, values, or culture.

Example

“I am drawn to L3Harris because of its commitment to innovation in defense technology and its focus on teamwork and collaboration. I admire the company’s mission to provide advanced communication solutions and would be excited to contribute to projects that have a significant impact on national security.”